Samuel m



(No Model.) 7

v S. M. STREET.

METALLIC SOLE PROTECTOR. No.28LZ09. Patented July 10, 1883.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

N. VEI'ERS. Phnmuxm n har, Wuhington. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

SAMUEL M. STREET, OF DALTON, GEORGIA.

M ETALLIC SOLE-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 281,209, dated July 10, 1883.

Application filed November 21, 1882. (No modelJ To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. STREET, of Dalton, in the county of W'hitfield and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Protectors for Boot and Shoe Soles; of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in protectors for the soles of boots and shoes, by which they are protected from wear, and still are pliable and easy to the foot-of the wearer; and it consists of a protector formed of a wire bent alternately forward and backward to pass across the sole of the boot or shoe, to which it is secured by means of a series of screws placed at a short distance from the edge of the sole in the loops formed by the wire.

It also consists of a toe-plate which covers the end of the wire, and also protects the tip of the shoe from wear.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a face view of a boot or shoe sole, showing the metallic protector as applied. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the sole shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line-w :0. Fig. 3 is a part of Fig. 1, showing the toe plate attached. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the sole, showing the protector and the manner of securing it to the sole; and Fig. 5 is a view of the wire protector ready for attachment to the sole.

A wire or other metallic strip, a, of any suitable form in cross-section, is bent alternately forward and backward in substantially paral-' is screwed into the sole A, and so arranged in relation to each other that the screws B on one side of the sole A are opposite the spaces between the screws B on the other side, the wire passing alternately back and forth and around the screws B on each side of the sole A, and

at the last of the screws B is firmly secured, thus making a serpentine metallic protector for the sole A. It is preferable to have the sole A of a single thickness of leather; but more thicknesses may be used, if desired, and the wire a of the protector C maybe partially or wholly embedded in the sole. The wire 0 may be round, square, or pyramidical in crosssection; but Iprefer the latter shape, as shown in Fig. .4, as the broad base gives a better hold for the heads of the attaching-screws B. The wire a should be made of steel, as, being hard, it is better adapted to retain its shape and place upon the sole A; but it may be made of iron or other material.

A metal toe-plate, D, (shown in Fig. 3,) is provided with a groove, E, on its under side, which covers and secures the end of the wire 0 of the protector O, and is also provided with apertures, through which screws F are inserted that secure the toeplate D to the sole A. 7 If it is desired, the plate D may be of such size and shape as to extend over the tip of the shoe to prevent the toe from wearing. This form of the plate D is especially adapted for chil drens shoes.

I do not confine myself to the serpentine shape of the metallic wire protector, as it may be so arranged that the wire 0 shall pass square across the shoe. Neither do I confine myself to the use of screws for fastening it upon the soles A, as nails, rivets, or other suitable means may be used.

It will be readily seen that this metallic protcct-or makes the sole durable, does not inter fere with the natural flexibility and elasticity of theleather sole, and allows it to conform itself to the natural bend of the foot in walking, and, being stiff crosswise, it prevents the sole from running over to the side.

A protector made, as described, of wire has many advantages over plate protectors, as it gives a firm and secure hold, keeping the foot from slipping, and it is also much more pleasant in use, as it does not impair the natural flexibility of the leather sole.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a protector for the soles of boots and shoes,

IOO

consisting of a wire bent alternately forward 4. In a protector for the soles of boots and and backward, and having substantially the shoes, the sole A, screws B, metallic protector contour of a boot or shoe sole, as set forth. 0, and toe-plate D, having the groove E, sub- 2. The metallic wire protector O, in combistantially as shown and described. 5 nation with the toe-plate D, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set SAMUEL MURLEY STREET. forth.

3. In a protector for the soles of boots and \Vitnesses: shoes, a toe-plate, D, provided with a groove, J EssE PEACOOK,

IO E, on its inner surface, substantially as speci- J. H. GORDON.

fied. 

